Andover Diamonds Dogged Determination Beats Newbury Vets

Newbury and Thatcham Vets 0 Andover Diamonds 2

Saturday 12th September saw the start of the 2015-16 Wessex Masters League season, the first competition being the League Cup group stage.

The first game saw Andover Diamonds travel to near neighbours, Newbury and Thatcham Vets, who had just been demoted to Div. 2 at the end of the 2014-15 Season. The Diamonds finished their last season as League Champions but failed to achieve the double when they were runners up in the League Cup.

From the first whistle the Diamonds put the League Cup disappointment behind them and they started brightly not letting the home side settle at all. It was only after 4 minutes that the Diamonds opened their account for the new season when Richard Romer-Lee opened the scoring when he pounced on a ball which the home keeper failed to clear cleanly and only succeeded in putting it into Romer-Lees path, who hit it past the stranded keeper.

Newbury tried to compose themselves after this setback but the Diamonds were determined that it was them who would be controlling play. They did not allow Newbury to settle and after 28 minutes Richard Hoo passed the ball to Mike Boyne who let loose a rasping shot which left the Newbury keeper stranded and the Diamonds 2 goals up.

The second half saw the Diamonds take control of the game leaving the home side chasing shadows. The Diamonds keeper, Ian Burnham, did just enough to keep Newbury out without having to stretch himself unduly and that seemed to be the case right through the team as everybody seemed to be playing well within themselves.

The final whistle brought proceedings to a close and the Diamonds looked as though they could be good value again this season.

TVBC Leader Councillor Ian Carr has announced he is to stand down in May 2017. In a press release, he said: After 18 years in the role, I have made the decision to stand down as Leader of Test Valley Borough Council, it is mid term in the Council calendar and I feel it is […]